The F-300 AgriFoodTech Innovation Park
Save the Date: Chamber Lunch & Learn
The Newberry Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Lunch & Learn event on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at noon at the UF‑IFAS facility in Newberry (22712 West Newberry Road). Kamal Latham, CEO of Global Solutions and lead consultant on the project, will be speaking and sharing detailed plans about the AgriFoodTech Park—what to expect, who’s involved, and how the community can benefit. Attendees will gain inside perspectives into site plans, timelines, and partnership opportunities.
A Renaissance Rooted in Ag Heritage: Newberry’s F‑300 AgriFoodTech Innovation Park
Nestled in agricultural-rich Alachua County, Newberry, Florida, has embarked on an inspired vision to marry its longstanding agrarian roots with cutting-edge innovation. The city’s proposed F‑300 AgriFoodTech Innovation Park is set to transform Newberry into a hub for agricultural technology, startups, and job creation. Named for Florida’s approximately 300 specialty crops, the F‑300 park seeks to honor the state’s diverse agricultural legacy while pushing forward into modern ag‑tech solutions. The park is planned as a multi-faceted innovation campus. At its core: a collaborative research and business incubator facility anchored by the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension Office, already relocated to Newberry. Beyond labs and offices, the site will offer on‑site production facilities, making it possible for startups to grow from idea to output without leaving the campus.
Strategic Momentum: Planning & Support
Since 2022, stakeholders including UF/IFAS, local leadership, scientists, and private consultants have guided the project. A feasibility study and business plan, completed in 2024, was funded by grants from the USDA and other partners, confirming the viability of the incubator model and supporting further funding applications. Projected to run across ~170 acres, the park is expected to generate around 1,700 high-skill jobs over 30 years—jobs paying well above Newberry’s current median income. Strategic plans also include educational outreach for both youth and adults to foster connections between students, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Newberry’s proximity to UF/IFAS is a critical asset. UF has cultivated national leadership in agricultural research, including AI applications, robotics, precision farming, and biotech. The university’s ambition of becoming “the Silicon Valley of Agriculture” aligns closely with the park’s vision. Global organizations like the International Fresh Produce Association have already expressed support, recognizing the project’s broader regional impact.
Leadership Spotlight: Kamal Latham
A key advocate for the AgriFoodTech initiative is Kamal Latham, CEO of Global Solutions, who has been serving as a consultant guiding the project’s development since late 2022.
Join us as Newberry charts a path from farmland to high-tech leader. The F‑300 AgriFoodTech Innovation Park is more than a development—it’s a transformational vision.
